Nigeria will host the Africa Internet Governance Forum (AfIGF) from 18 to 21 September in Abuja. This comes ahead of the 18th United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF), which will be held in Japan next month, with the theme: “The Internet we want – empowering all people”.
The African Internet Governance Forum is dedicated to fostering open and inclusive dialogue on Internet governance issues that impact Africa.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is hosting the AfIGF on behalf of the government, with the theme “Transforming Africa’s Digital Landscape: Empowering Inclusion, Security, and Innovation”.
A statement by the commission reads:
The Forum will serve as a platform for meaningful dialogue and collaboration on Internet governance among various sectors and regional initiatives to advance digital connectivity, address Internet governance challenges, and empower Africa through digital transformation.
The event will be preceded by the African Youth Internet Governance Forum, which will take place from 13-18 September, 2023.
The series of events at this year’s programme will commence with the Parliamentarian Symposium, scheduled to take place on 18-19 September, 2023, during which members of the parliament from all participating countries will take the opportunity to consult and network with one another in a roundtable designed to better understanding of the roles of the legislature, and nudge deeper synergy with parliaments on Internet governance in Africa.
Next month, Africans will participate at the UN IGF, which will have eight sub-themes to cover all such Internet-related issues for discussion. These are AI and emerging technologies, avoiding Internet fragmentation, cyber security, cybercrime and online safety, data governance and trust, digital divides and inclusion, global digital governance and cooperation, human rights and freedoms, and sustainability and environment.
